The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-15
THE INDIANAPOLIS CITY ELECTION.
HE CITY AND STATE.

Chicago Inter Ocean: The Indianapolis city
election is evidence that mon be led to re-
gard local matters of the first import. There.
as in Baltimore, New York and Chicago, De-
mocracy has come to mean saloonism gambler
ism, thuggsm, prostitution of public sentiment.
and profiigacy in public expenditure. The Re-
publican aud independent press of the city
wisely abstained from beating the drum" politi-
cal during the campaign, tine voters were urged
to support the Republican nominee, not as rep
reseutative of national issue, but as represent.
tative of good local government. The issue or
the campaign not made toward the pres
idency in 1888. but toward suppression of the
power of the gamb bling hes. the whisky shops,
the brothels-al that is included in the slang
of "a wide-open policy" The result is extremely
satisfactory: the city is naturally close in poll
ties Mayor Denny was elected by bare
plurality of sixty-two in 1885. and his strict en-
forcemsnt of the laws against vice and immor-
atty arrayed the vicious elements of society
against him in such ardor of battle as to make
his friends doubtful of his reelection. How
ever, his second election is assured by a plurall-
ty of 600 at least a tenfold increase on that OF
his first.
This is firstly and mainly a triumph of virtue
in local contest; but not the less IS it an index
of results in the next national contest For it
is a disclosure of the temper of tho people
toward vicious politicians, and the management
of the Democratic policy of the State of Indiana
is in vicious hands as that OF the city of IN
dianapois. In the city Democratic success
meant non-enforcement of the laws against sa-
looms, gam bin g houses and brothels low mu-
nicipal license for saloons. and an extravaganza
expenditure of taxes. In the State Democratic
success has resulted in the appointment of a trus-
tee of the Soldiers Orphans Home who was found
guilty of debeuchine the still childish girls who
were wards of the State: it has resulted in the
appointment of trustees of the Insane Asylum
who have fed the patients on butter and pork
that crawlsd in its maggot-haunted putrescencei
it has led TO the appointment OF trustees or the
southern pententiarv who elected and sup
ported a warden under whose management the
prisoners treated with barbarc cruelty
and the State robbed with orienta magniti-
cence. 1t has resulted in an empty State Treas
urv and an increased State indebtedness. The
State of Indiana. like the city of Indianapolis. is
close politics, but surely such vice and prof1l-
gacy as Democratic rule has engendered In
State affairs will lead to a rebuke at least as
grave as that which was administered to those
who sought to deliver the city to the control of
its worst elements.
A BAD YEAR FOR GANGS.
Chicago Tribune: The Republicans of Indian
apolis. aided by the reform voters of the other
parties, achieved splendid victory ic smashing
the Coy gang of Democratic corruptionists Tues
day last and e.eecting Mayor Denny by an In
creased majority. AS in municipal election
it was contest between the reform elements on
the one hand and the corrupt and criminal class
IS on the other. The latter, who controlled the
Democratic machine. had made the most desper-
ate effort to capture the city They had resorted
to bogus affidavits. The liquor men spent mon
ey like water. The gang even resorted to the
forgery of tally sheets They did not hesitate
at any crime which they thought would carry
the election but in spite of all their efforts. and
by the aid of the heavy rewards offered by the
illegal voters the law and order men not only
smashed the ring aud saved the city from gang
domination by electine their Mayor. but they
emphasized their victory by securing majority
in both branches of the Common Council. thus
obtaining complete control of the municipal ad-
ministration. Having made sure of victory they
should now follow the example of Chicago and
leave no step untaken which will secure the APP
prehension and conviction of the tally sheet for
gers. Evidently it is bad year for the gangs
all over.
Philadelphia Press: The result of the MUM
cipal election IN Indianapolis Tuesday Is clear
gain for good and honest government Inc
city has been cursed by one of those Democratic
gangs" that infest every large city IN the
North. This ''gang" is LED by the notorious
saloon keeper Sim" Coy. who is now unoer IN
dictment for committing forgery on the tally
sheet at the election last November. ne mas
controlled the Democratic party and allied IL
with the liquor interest, competing tne Demo'
cratic convention to nominate man TOT mayor
VINO was rledged not to enforce the laws regu-
latng the liquor traffic. The Respectable citi-
zens of indianapolis determined 70 reonke tnls
combination and they did it on Tuesday by re-
electng the Republican Mayor by ten times the
plurality he received one year ago AS the
Democratic leaders from Senator voorhees,
down tried to rally their party on the plea tnat
defeat in Indianapolis now meant defeat In the
State next year. they must accept the Veroics
of the people given on their own chosen ground.
And the liuuor dealers have received anotner
lesson on thrusting their business into politics.
A DEMOCRATIC RING MASHED.
Brooklyn Eagle fDem): The honest Democ,
racy of Indianapolis are to be eongratuiated
unon the defeat of the Democratic ring at the
polls in that city yesterday. 1t was a ring In
s:icr with the love of spoils and bottomeo on
sour mash-a ring with head full of Bourbon
ideas and skin full of whisky. 1t managed to
hold its own as long IS it did for the same rea-
sons that rings just corrupt IN other cities
have enjoyed a long lease of power. That Is to
say honest men of tie party were loatb to be-
lieve that il was as bad as it was represented to
be- and by their votes enabled it to continue its
career of rascalty. They have at last awakened
frou, their deusion and sided with the Indian
apo,is Republicans as the best means Of deliver
ing the Democratic party from the yoke OF such
a servtude.
When the present national administration
came into power the indianapolis Democratic
ring was about the toughest customer with
which il had to deal in the matter of federal
patronage. 1t wholly declined to acknowledge
the Presidents obligations under the civii-serv-
| ice law, and it's organ, the Sentinel, commenced
| a bitter warfare upon him, which it still keeps
| up. The clamor of the In dianapolis spoilsmen
/ was more deafening than the clamor OF any
/ other Western gang of hesh-pot hunters. They